Furnace tapping system

ABSTRACT

A movable platform system for tapping a smelting furnace is provided. The platform carries empty ladles to the furnace and after they are filled, the platform is withdrawn and the ladles are removed and replaced. The platform is constructed so as to encircle at least one-fourth of the furnace periphery so that a plurality of ladles can be placed around the furnace at the same time.

United States Patent Arthur E. Smith [72] Inventor 3,141,916 7/1964 McFeaters et al. 266/36 Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada 3,452,971 7/1969 Rinesch v 266/35 1 1 pp 785%) FOREIGN PATENTS {221 Fled 485,053 12 1917 France 266/38 613 174 11/1926 France 266/38 [73] Assignee Union Carbide Corporation New York, NY. Primary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost AttorneysPaul A. Rose, Robert C. Cummings and Frederick J. McCarthy, Jr. [54] FURNACE TAPPING SYSTEM 8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 266/42,

13/33, 266/13, 266/38 [5 l] '1'. 1 1 1 A movable platform system for tapping a smelt- Field Search 266/1 ing furnace is provided. The platform carries empty ladles to 34, 36 P1 42; 13/10 33 the furnace and after they are filled, the platform is withdrawn 56 R i cud and the ladies are removed and replaced. The platform is conl l e canoes I structed so as to encircle at least one-fourth of the furnace UNITED STATES PATENTS periphery so that a plurality of ladles can be placed around the 2,890,951 6/ 1959 Roy 266/38 furnace at the same time.

Z? 32 T I l' L f 1 1.

35 in Lb o o l SHEET 1 0F 2 PATENIE D M22197:

PATENTED' 2 i 7 3,586,305

' SHEET 2 [IF 2 INVENTOR /iFiqTUR E. sf Hg ATTORNEY FURNACE TAPPING SYSTEM FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to an electric arc smelting furnace and more specifically to a mechanical system which is employed to facilitate the removal of the contents of the furnace.

The tapping of a rotating or oscillating hearth furnace has been and continues to be a major problem in the industry. In

order that the tapping process be efficiently carried out, ladles' and removal of the ladles. One system employed consists of ladle cars which are moved on curved tracks around the fur nace by a winch and cable apparatus. Such a system is often a safety hazard. In addition, this system requires that a crane be properly positioned to remove and replace the ladles and such crane positioning usually requires that the operating floor be provided with a notch cut to stabilize and position the crane. The disadvantages of the system have been partially overcome by the use of motorized cars'to carry the ladles but-this system is uneconomical and relatively inefficient.

Thus there is still an important need in the metal working industry to provide a system for effectively removing the contents of a furnace without hazard, continuous maintenance or repair and which is relatively simple to operate. It is the primary object of this invention therefore to provide such a system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Broadly, the invention comprises a movable platform system which is periodically reciprocated between a position adjacent the furnace and a position spaced from the furnace. The platform system suitably includes a platform which is large enough to carry at least one ladle. In the preferred embodiment, the platform is mounted on wheels and is moved along rails as it reciprocates. A crane is positioned over the platform to remove and replace the filled ladles. A second platform mounted vertically above the basic platform can be employed to carry auxiliary equipment such as a rodding machine which is used to assist in the removal of the metal from the furnace tapping holes and a plugging machine for plugging the tap hole or a combination machine for both operations.

The operation of the system is relatively simple and quite ef- I ficient. The fully constructed platform is placed on rails which extend in a straight line toward the furnace. An overhead crane loads several ladles on the platform in positions which correspond to the furnace tapping hole positions. Motor means within the platform are then activated to drive the platform toward the furnace until it is adjacent and almost contiguous with the furnace. The tap holes of the furnace are then stimulated in the normal manner by a lance or other device such as a rodding machine to ease the flow of metal from the furnace. When the ladles are filled, the platform is driven back to its original position and the ladles are removed. The cycle is then repeated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more readily understood by referring ty ofwheels l2, l4, l6 affixed thereto, a ladle 18 which is posi- I tioned below tapping hole 20 in furnace 22, and an overhead crane 24. A second platform 26 is vertically positioned above platform .10 and serves as a support for rodding and/or plugging machines-28. The platform 26 is high enough to maintain the rod or lance 30 at the level of tapping hole 20. A furnace operating floor 32 projects from the furnace above the platform 26 and stairways 34, 35 are placed between platforms 10, 26 so that equipment operators can readily obtain access to the system components.

The platform is shown in its alternate position in FIG. 1 as indicated by the dotted illustration 36. In'this position, the ladles are free of the furnace operating floor 32 and are readily lifted by overhead crane 24 as depicted i.e. ladle 38. After the unloading and loading operation has been completed, the entire assembly is returned to the furnace for further tapping. FIG. 2 illustrates the platform system in a tapping position adjacent the furnace 22. The platform 10 is large enough to encircle a sizeable portion of the furnace thereby enabling several ladles l7, I8, 19 and 21 to be positioned about the periphery of the fumace. This 7 facilitates the tapping procedure since the furnace can rotate or oscillate to fill the several ladles before the platform is withdrawn. Preferably, the platform 10 should be wide enough to encircle at least one-fourth of the outer periphery of the furnace for best operating results.

The rodding machine 28 is slidably positioned on curved tracks or rails-40 which enable itto move in an are about the furnace to essentially follow the .tap holes in the rotating furnace. Alternately, the rodding and/or plugging machine may be moved about the platform by the overhead crane for proper positioning withrespect to the furnace tap hole. Such a construction ensures that proper tapping will occur at virtually any position within the arc of travel. The rodding machine is able to travel in an arc of or more with a properly sized platform 26.

The broken away portion of platform 26 shows the drive mechanism which is suitably employed in the system. A plurality of straight parallel rails 41, 42, 43, 44 carry the assembly as it travels between positions by means of wheels such as ll, l3, l5, 16. Drive wheels 46, 48 are powered by motor means 50, gearing means 52 and drive shaft 54. The entire driving mechanism is operated at a control panel which is placed either on the platform itself or at some remote position in the plant or factory. The motor can be operated from the normal factory supply lines or even can be battery controlled.

The following example is illustrative of the apparatus of the invention:

EXAMPLE A circular furnace measuring 35 feet in diameter oscillated through a 240 range of rotation during operation and was equipped with four tapping holes spaced approximately 60 apart along the arc of rotation. A platform measuring 52 feet in width and designed substantially as shown in FIG[ 2 (numeral 10) was positioned adjacent the furnace. The platform by its curved contour was able to encircle about one-third of the furnace periphery and five ladles each having a capacity of cubic feet were spaced about the furnace on the platform. The ladles covered about l00 of the furnace periphery and this represented the platform tapping range capability. The platform was mounted on wheels aligned in four columns and situated on four parallel straight rails embedded in the factory floor. Each of the outer wheel columns had five wheels plus a drive wheel while the inner columns contained only four wheels. The platform was actually divided into two segments which were joined by a coupler link and pin. The forward segment carried the ladles and measured 18 feet in length. A second platform was positioned approximately 7 feet above the lower platform and secured to the second segment thereof, it being recessed from the furnace as shown in the drawings (numeral 26). The upper platform was 56% feet wide and equipped with two curved rails 6 feet apart for carrying a rodding machine which rotated about the curved upper platform on the rails to aid in the tapping operation. The overall platform length was about 40 feet with the upper platform and second segment of the lower platform being about 29 feet in length. After the ladles were filled the platforms were withdrawn from the furnace by a 20 horsepower motor and traveled 27 feet along the rails to a position beneath an overhead crane. The filled ladles were removed and five empty ladles positioned about the lower platform. Approximately 2 hours were required to complete the procedure.

It will be appreciated that the movable platform system of the invention can be appreciably modified without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, any other suitable means to move the platform relative to the furnace may be employed. Furthermore, by increasing or decreasing the platform size, the tapping range may be increased or decreased. Other platform shapes, sizes and structures may be employed without adversely affecting the basic inventive concept. Thus,

ladles may be placed at each end of the platform and when one group is filled, they can be rotated to a position where the ladles can be removed while the empty ladles are rotated into tapping position. I

The system of the invention provides a much needed solution to the problems encountered in furnace tapping operation. The system is efficient, economical and easily adapted for various design considerations.

lclaim:

l. A movable platform system for facilitating the removal of the contents of a smelting furnace, comprising, in combination,

a. a first platform positioned proximate said furnace;

b. ladle means positioned on said first platform for receiving the contents of said furnace;

c. means for moving said first platform toward said furnace such that said ladle means is in position to receive the contents of said furnace, and for moving said platform away from said furnace when said ladle means is suitably filled;

d. means for removing said filled ladle means from said plat form and for placing additional ladle means on said platform; v

e. a second platform positioned vertically above and secured to said first platform; and

f. means positioned on said second platform for penetrating the tapping hole in said furnace to aid the release of said furnace contents.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first platform is provided with wheels which are mounted on a plurality of rails upon which said first platform can move.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said'means for penetrating the furnace tapping hole is movably mounted on said second platform such that it is movable to several positions about the periphery of said furnace.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said means is a rodding machine mounted on wheels and movable along rails which are secured to said second platform.

S.- The system of claim I wherein said second platform covers a major portion of said first platform and is recessed from said furnace when said first platform is substantially contiguous with said furnace.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one stairway is connected between said first and said second platforms.

7. A movable platform system for facilitating the removal of the contents of a smelting furnace; comprising, in combination,

a. a platform positioned proximate said furnace and structured such that it encloses at least one-fourth of the outer periphery of said furnace;

. a plurality of ladle means positioned on said platform for receiving the contents of said furnace at various positions about the periphery of the furnace;

. means for moving said platform toward said furnace such that one of said ladle means is in position to receive the contents of said furnace, and for moving said platform away from said furnace when at least one of said ladle means is suitably filled; and

d. means for removing at least one of said filled ladle means from said platform and replacing at least one empty ladle means on said platform.

8. The system as in claim 7 wherein said platform is provided with wheels which are mounted on a plurality of rails upon which said platform can move. 

1. A movable platform system for facilitating the removal of the contents of a smelting furnace, comprising, in combination, a. a first platform positioned proximate said furnace; b. ladle means positioned on said first platform for receiving the contents of said furnace; c. means for moving said first platform toward said furnace such that said ladle means is in position to receive the contents of said furnace, and for moving said platform away from said furnace when said ladle means is suitably filled; d. means for removing said filled ladle means from said platform and for placing additional ladle means on said platform; e. a second platform positioned vertically above and secured to said first platform; and f. means positioned on said second platform for penetrating the tapping hole in said furnace to aid the release of said furnace contents.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first platform is provided with wheels which are mounted on a plurality of rails upon which said first platform can move.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for penetrating the furnace tapping hole is movably mounted on said second platform such that it is movable to several positions about the periphery of said furnace.
 4. The system of claim 3 wherein said means is a rodding machine mounted on wheels and movable along rails which are secured to said second platform.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein said second platform covers a major portion of said first platform and is recessed from said furnace when said first platform is substantiAlly contiguous with said furnace.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one stairway is connected between said first and said second platforms.
 7. A movable platform system for facilitating the removal of the contents of a smelting furnace, comprising, in combination, a. a platform positioned proximate said furnace and structured such that it encloses at least one-fourth of the outer periphery of said furnace; b. a plurality of ladle means positioned on said platform for receiving the contents of said furnace at various positions about the periphery of the furnace; c. means for moving said platform toward said furnace such that one of said ladle means is in position to receive the contents of said furnace, and for moving said platform away from said furnace when at least one of said ladle means is suitably filled; and d. means for removing at least one of said filled ladle means from said platform and replacing at least one empty ladle means on said platform.
 8. The system as in claim 7 wherein said platform is provided with wheels which are mounted on a plurality of rails upon which said platform can move. 